South Korea: Thousands call for president’s resignation over allegations of cronyism and ‘shaman’ influence

South Koreans shout slogans during an anti-president rally in downtown Seoul, South Korea on Saturday. Pic: AP.

 30th October 2016

SOUTH KOREANS gathered in mass street protests on Saturday, demanding that President Park Geun-hye step down from office following recent accusations that she had shared official state documents with a friend and allowed said friend to meddle in state affairs.

On Tuesday, Park made a rare public apology, admitting that she had shown secret documents, including drafts of presidential speeches, to her confidant, Choi Soon-sil, seeking her advice. Choi does not hold any public office.

“I am shocked and my heart is breaking for causing public concern.

“I’ve done so (shared the documents) out of pure heart so that I could carefully review (the documents),” she said in the live telecast, reported CNN.

Onlookers watch a news program about South Korean President Park Geun-hye’s apology. Pic: AP.

Local cable TV network JTBC broke the scandal earlier this week, revealing evidence that Choi had received confidential documents and influenced government matters.

It was also alleged that Choi had used her close relationship with Park for personal and financial gain, such as manipulating local firms into ‘donating’ about 50 billion won (US$44 million) to two foundations that had supposedly been set up by her.

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As of Thursday, the Prosecutor’s Office established a “special investigation unit” to investigate the matter, and is interviewing presidential aides and other officials involved.

Angered by the scandal, some 8,000 people gathered at the rally yesterday, said police, while organizers said up to 30,000 people took part in the march through the capital of Seoul.

Speaking to Reuters, one of the participants at the rally, Jeong Hong-woo, 22, said: “It’s become clear the people made a wrong decision and picked a wrong president.”

SEE ALSO: Top South Korean government officials battle bribery claims

The scandal has also taken on a strange twist, as rumors swirl of Choi’s links to a religious cult, depicting her as a “shaman” who has been manipulating Park through supernatural means and even comparing her to Russian mystic Rasputin.

Among those calling for Park’s resignation is housewife Lee Ji-Hu, 33, who was quoted by Channel News Asia saying: “How can a leader have a shaman, or someone linked to a religious cult as a secret advisor and let her handle state affairs and squander taxpayers’ money like that?”

Public outcry over Choi has seen Park’s approval ratings take a tumble, hitting an all-time low of 21.1 percent on Thursday, according to local pollster Real Meter, while in another poll, over 40 percent of respondents said Park should resign or be impeached.